Wednesday, August 31, 2011

More questions than answers at St. James meeting

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The controversy surrounding the construction plans of a new church building continued last week when a “St. James informational meeting” regarding the rezoning and building of the church and was held at the Boone County Community Building Complex.

Parishioners and other interested parties began filling the stands early in the artfully refurbished auditorium/gymnasium on West 1st Street. Ten panelists sat at long tables facing the stands, their first names printed in bold caps on colorful place cards in front of each person. It lent a friendly touch to a highly charged atmosphere in the huge room. …..

Much was speculated upon; some issues were explained, and some were left up in the air. Most were in agreement that another meeting should be scheduled, hopefully with Father Geary present to address the many unanswered questions.

Click on the following to read the complete Belvidere Daily Republican storyhttp://www.belvideredailyrepublican.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6912:more-questions-than-answers-at-st-james-meeting&catid=106:belvidere&Itemid=508

Access takes another hit

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Quinn was at it again last Friday, when he signed into law House Bill 1716. The law further erodes the state’s Freedom of Information Act – something Quinn and the state Legislature have been doing since FOIA reform went into effect Jan. 1, 2010.

Some of HB 1716’s lowlights:

• It eliminates the requirement that public bodies ask for permission from the Public Access Counselor’s Office of the state Attorney General before denying records requests based on exemptions for personal privacy and preliminary drafts of documents.

• It allows governments to take up to 21 days to respond to FOIA requests by “recurrent” requesters – people who file more than 50 FOIA requests in a year, more than 15 requests in a month or more than seven in a week.

• It allows government entities to charge for the actual costs of retrieving information stored off-site.

Click on the following for the complete story:  http://www.nwherald.com/2011/08/29/access-takes-another-hit/apziqnd/

St. James Capital Campaign demands “allegiance”

 

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The following letter was sent home Friday with children from the St. James pre-school (3 year old and older).  My latest understanding is that the same message will be sent out to parents of regular school children at St. James.  Will children attending CCD classes (Wednesday, Thursday evenings and Sunday morning) also be required to give their parents such a letter?  No, CCD starts after Labor Day.

I have a problem equating Catholic faith with supporting a zoning request. Oppose a city zoning request and oppose God?

 

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campaign committee

Mr. Rod Snyder and Mrs. Cathy Vendemia are co-chairpersons of the Campaign Leadership Committee.  Father Geary is on vacation the weeks of August 22 thru September 5, 2011.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Two Meetings? Or did someone make a mistake? Sept 6 or is it Sept 12? Or will it be yet another date?

As required by law there will be an hearing on the Comcast franchise renewal but who really knows when it will occur.

The following posted notice on the Boone County website indicates public comments on September 6.

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And here is the published public notice from page 12 of the Boone County Journal. The meeting is September 12.

Sept 6 & 12 meeting

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Updated: Index of postings on Concerned Catholics of Boone County

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$5 million is just the beginning of Illinois’ health care exchange costs

August 24, 2011

By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois is touting a $5 million federal grant to set up health-care exchanges as part of the national health care law, but residents may not have access to an exchange for a couple years.

Illinois wants to have an exchange ready for federal review by 2013, said Kate Gross, assistant director for health planning at the Illinois Department of Insurance. If Illinois fails to set up its exchange by January 2014, it will be required to use an exchange chosen by federal officials.

The $5 million, Gross said, will be spent "on groups of consultants or firms to … begin to help (us) truly figure out all of the pieces that we're building."

These consultants or firms will write a report for lawmakers that details how the state should proceed to create a health-care exchange, Gross said.

A handful of full-time state employees in the Department of Insurance also are working on the exchange project, but Gross said more outside help is needed.

Illinois has spent $1 million on consultants to study Illinois' health insurance needs, but Gross said the state needed additional consultants to discern where to begin.

That report, provided by Wakely Consulting Group, a private consulting group from from Boston, suggests broad goals, such as using technology to identify under-insured populations and foster a competitive health-insurance marketplace.

But the report does not suggest how the state can accomplish these goals. Lawmakers are going to have to decide how to follow up on the report's vague goals.

The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges are intended to help consumers shop for coverage in the same way airline travelers look for airfare bargains online.

"An exchange is a store to purchase health insurance," Gross said. "It will have a lot of encounters with people that will have to be addressed. It will have a policy shop, it has to have finance people, it has to have lawyers, and actuaries. But it doesn't have to have hundreds of those people."

Gross said the consultant or firm paid $5 million must address whether Illinois' health care exchange will be part of state government, quasi-public or nonprofit.

"How (the exchange) operates, its legal structure, its reporting structure, how it's governed, how it's permitted to make decisions, the amount of accountability to the people of Illinois — all of that is what the legislative study committee is charged with studying," Gross said.

The Legislative Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability held its first study committee meeting Wednesday morning in Chicago. The lawmakers discussed a number of topics, but did not arrive at any solutions. The commission is expected to meet next week here.

Legislation signed by Gov. Pat Quinn in July started Illinois toward the health-care exchanges. SB 1555 requires businesses with less than 50 employees to spend at least $2,750 per employee on health insurance for their workers. The legislation also sets an October 2013 deadline, but does not specify how the exchanges will be governed.

Until a health-care exchange is finalized, and up and running, Jamie Lewis is not going to worry. Lewis and her husband, Troy, own Heritage Landscape and Design in Moline.

"You never know what's going to happen until it gets put through,” said Lewis.

Lewis said her firm, which employs about 26 people for landscape design and hardscape work, pays for about half of the health insurance bill for its workers, but she did not specify the actual amount.

If the health-care exchange doesn't deliver cheaper alternative, Lewis said, “we'll just hire less people," but she won’t be laying off any people.

Kim Clarke Maisch, the Illinois director for the National Federation of Independent Business, or NFIB, which lobbies and advocates for small- and medium-sized businesses, said those kinds of decisions are what she hopes lawmakers keep in mind, as they craft Illinois' health-care exchange.

"Who gets to be part of the exchange? Are employers going to have to pay for part-time workers?" Maisch said. "There's a lot of technical things, but very important aspects to the exchange that will make it or break it."

Maisch said she and her group are not opposed to health-care exchanges. But some private groups, including NFIB, and several states, not Illinois, have filed a lawsuit against the federal government over the requirement that people buy insurance. Opponents of the law say it's unconstitutional for the government to force someone to buy health insurance.

A federal court in Atlanta earlier this month ruled that the mandate went beyond Congress' power. The ruling is the second on the federal health care law. The first upheld the mandate.

Costs for the exchanges are likely to vary from state to state, depending on how they build their exchanges.

Court delays superintendent pay case

August 23, 2011

By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ regional school superintendents are going to have to show a central Illinois judge why he should force the state to pay them if the superintendents are going to get a paycheck anytime soon.

Illinois’ 44 regional superintendents have been working without a paycheck since July 1, when Gov. Pat Quinn used his veto power to strip $11 million from the state budget. Last Friday, the superintendents filed a lawsuit in Sangamon County Circuit Court asking a judge to issue a temporary restraining order that would force the Quinn administration to pay them.

But it will be Thursday before the superintendents learn if their case will go forward.

Sangamon County Circuit Judge John Schmidt on Tuesday delayed a hearing on the restraining order request, giving lawyers for Quinn more time to prepare their response to the lawsuit. Schmidt scheduled a hearing Thursday, and tipped both sides to the question he wants answered.

“Temporary restraining orders usually stop something,” Schmidt said. “This request would force the state to start paying the superintendents. I’d like to hear arguments on that.”

Terence Corrigan, assistant bureau chief for the Illinois Attorney General’s Springfield office, argued the case Tuesday on behalf of the Quinn administration. Corrigan asked Schmidt for more time to deal with what Corrigan called the “serious constitutional issues” involved in the superintendents’ requests.

Bob Daiber, president of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, which lobbies for the regional superintendents, agreed that there are serious constitutional issues at hand. But he said the case before Schmidt is simple.

“It stops the state from violating the law,” Daiber said.

Daiber has been talking with Quinn’s office since July 1. He said the reality of two months without pay forced the superintendents into court.

“We’re looking at going another complete month without pay. We realize that is we continue with talks, we’ll probably go a third month without pay,” Daiber said. “There are members of our association that feel we have exhausted our options.”

Kelly Kraft, the governor’s budget spokeswoman, said the administration continues to talk with Daiber and the regional superintendents.

“We continue to work toward a short-term solution to ensure payment through the veto session,” Kraft said. “The conversations continue to be productive.”

The governor has said for months that he wants to pay the superintendents, but wants to take the money from local sources. Local voters elect regional superintendents, but the state pays their nearly $100,000 a year salaries.

But Quinn’s plan to shift superintendents’ pay from the state to local taxpayers requires action from the Illinois General Assembly. Lawmakers are not expected to be back at the Capitol until late October. Once they return, there also is a possibility that legislators will overrule Quinn’s veto and restore state funding for the superintendents.

Daiber is quick to say the superintendents cannot wait that long.

“We already have one regional superintendent who intends to leave at the end of this month because of the situation,” Daiber said.

Daiber said St. Clair County Regional Superintendent Brad Harriman has indicated he will leave his post soon.

Harriman said his last day will be Sept. 7.

“I’m gone,” Harriman said by phone Tuesday. “I’ve already made up my mind.”

Harriman said he was not thinking about leaving his post until recently. Even if the state starts sending checks in September, he said he will not not stay.

“This is something that wasn’t even on my mind two weeks ago,” Harriman added. “And I know I’ll take a hit to my pension, but I’m going to retire early.”

Harriman was elected to his second term in 2010. He said he does not have another job lined-up.

Both the Quinn administration and the superintendents are due back in Schmidt’s courtroom Thursday afternoon.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Should St. James build a “cathedral style” church?

St. James’ revised plans for a new church at Caswell and Church streets are now available.  These are the most detailed plans submitted thus far-- actual dimension rather than mere narrative is supplied for the building itself. 

On page 1 of Father Geary’s August 20th letter to the aldermen the new church is called a “cathedral style”.  Does a “cathedral style” belong on our small parish campus?  Can St. James afford to build a “cathedral style” church?  Is a “cathedral style” church necessary for St. James?  Should the City of Belvidere allow  the massive size of a “cathedral style” church in a residential area?

Father Geary also refers to the new Church as a “traditional church”.  That terminology is very interesting.  “Traditional” is often use by some priests as pre-Vatican II (1963).  Is this the meaning which Father Geary is using?  A classic “cathedral style” church has not been built in the diocese since 1960.  The recent tradition (last 50 years) is for modern/contemporary churches.  The professional staff of Belvidere Planning and Zoning indicated that there was no large organ or artifact that required a church height exceeding the zoning height limits.   Aldermen, can you ask the design team the meaning of “traditional church”,  Father Geary is on vacation.  I suggest that this is an important question.  Is this “cathedral style”  in keeping with today’s tradition of post-Vatican II Catholic parishes?  Please ask the design team to define their terms.

 

The following information was supplied to the aldermen just before the meeting on August 22 and just became available this morning (August 23, 2011).  It and all of the other photocopies are available at : 

http://www.boonecountyil.org/sites/default/files/St.%20James%20revised%20submittal.pdf   Note the actual dimensions of the “cathedral style” church.

 

Click on the individual photocopies to enlarge:

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Revised Diagram of the New St. James

 

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On-site parking spaces equally the code required 170 will be provided by the new plan.  This will be accomplished by demolishing the old church and rectory (see below) and purchasing property adjacent to the school playground/parking lot.

 

 

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Newly purchased “Bird House” and extra lot re-developed into playground/parking lot

 

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Shadow effects on neighbors on Church Street

 

Read the summary.  It appears that only one hour of direct sunlight will reach the East  side of the two homes on Church Street during Winter.  There may be a lot of ice on Church Street and on these neighbors’ driveways and walks.  Should the city council allow these taxpayers to lose morning  Sun because St. James wants to build a “cathedral style” church?

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Monday, August 22, 2011

St. James’ Revised Plan due 8-19-2011—or does a church not have to abide by deadlines?

UPDATE:  Monday, 8-22-2011, 9:10 AM. I just contacted Belvidere Planning and Zoning. Mr.Linkenheld emailed the office this morning and the written revision will now be submitted this afternoon.

SEE Mr. Linkenheld’s letter below. Any additional information will be presented by August 19.  On Wednesday, August 17 Father Geary and the architect  presented oral information at a Planning and Zoning staff meeting.  Mayor Brereton was kind enough to supply an oral summary of the meeting to three concerned citizens and neighbors of the St. James project on Thursday. 

As of 1:30 PM on Friday 8-19-2011 no written revised plan has been received.  At 4:30 PM Mr. Linkenheld called the Planning and Zoning Department and stated that there is “just one more thing regarding parking” so he will get it to the Planning and Zoning on Monday.  The aldermen will have no written information regarding the revised plan.  The neighbors and concerned citizens will have little or no time to consider the changes nor have an opportunity to review the plans.   Will Monday’s proceedings regarding St. James really be open and transparent when neither the city council nor the general public have an opportunity to study the revised plans?

 

I understand that some of the aldermen have had private discussions with the parish about the revision.  Perhaps some of them have been given the new plans to study. Are all these actions as transparent and open as they should be?  Will some aldermen have information which  is not available to the public?

 

The following appears to be the procedure which the city will follow on the revision (subject to change by the city council).  On this Monday, August 22, Mr. Linkenheld will present the revised plan at city council.  The aldermen may then ask questions even though aldermen may not have had the opportunity to study the written proposal.  The public then can ask questions.  The written revision may or may not have ever been available to the public.  The St. James zoning request then would be voted at the next meeting—Tuesday--September 6.  The public can talk to the aldermen individually or possibly at the Tuesday meeting before the vote.  However there will no further opportunity to pose questions to Mr. Linkenheld and St. James.  Basically the public’s questions will be unanswered unless they are present at the August 22 meeting and the public is smart enough and quick enough to pose the questions at the August 22 meeting.

 

The following is the information which we obtained from our meeting with the Mayor and from Jean Christensen’s discussion with Mr. Linkenheld several days ago.  Please remember all the changes are merely proposals which St. James may or may not be in the actual revision.

 

The revised Church will have the same foot print. (length and width dimensions);  however, the building has been moved closer to the school/parish center.  The baptistery is on the school side rather than on Church Street.  The building has also been moved closer to Caswell Street and the porch like effect (see bottom color photocopy, #7) is much smaller.  That will have a major effect on the ramp; we will have to wait to see if diagrams of that are provided by Mr. Linkenheld. 

The shadow effect of the tall church still will exist but it will shift.  How it shifts will be unknown unless that question is answered at the August 22 meeting and Mr. Linkenheld gives a complete presentation of the effect on all of the neighboring property owners.  The shadow analysis should consider the relative height of the new church not merely the building height from its foundation.  The proposed building has a number of steps from the street before you reach the buildings floor.  Thus a 70 foot church will be casting a shadow of a considerably taller building upon its neighbors.  If the ground level on the church is 10 feet higher than the neighboring property a shadow equivalent to a 80 foot building will be cast upon its neighbors.

The height of the new church has been shortened slightly.  The inside ceiling is now arched and rises above the sidewall in the middle so as to maintain the look and feel of 50 feet high ceilings.  The side walls are 48 feet rather than 54 feet.  The peak height was not supplied however half way up the peak,  the height is 54.5 feet.(This is information on a shadow analysis presented.  I estimated the height at the peak has changed from 70 feet to 64 feet.)  Half way up the peak (54.5 feet) was the basis for shadow studies that were demonstrated to zoning/planning staff for the houses across Caswell Street from the new church.

Please keep in mind that the above information is all third hand information without written documentation and St. James may even change their oral revision when it is finally written and presented to the public.

Extension request 7-28-2011

 

 

OLD—As submitted to Belvidere Planning and Zoning on May 10, 2011

Taken from: 

http://www.boonecountyil.org/sites/default/files/June%2014,%202011.pdf

Click on the photocopy to enlarge: 

 

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Brochure 8

Belvidere Township Financials

NEWS FLASH:  This afternoon(8-23-2011) at 5:00 PM Belvidere Township Board will receive the environmental report on the old Eagle’s Club and will discuss further the purchase of the building for Y Activities.  If you live in Belvidere Township please come.

Also remember the public forum regarding the new St. James Church—this evening at 6:30 PM at the Community Building—all parishioners and general public welcome.

Last week I posted Terri Glass’ request for financial information from Belvidere Township.  [SEE:  http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2011/08/t-glass-freedom-of-information-act.html]

Another reader supplied this summary of township finances and its budget as proposed in April 2011.

First remember that basically there is a special accounting for each of the township accounts with each account having limitations as to allowable expenses.

Accounts

The fiscal year is from April 1 to March 31.  Here are the beginning and ending balances for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011. Total fund balances increase by $505,612.22; the larges amount in the town account ($234589.71).

Click on the photocopy to enlarge:

TABLE 1

Account balances

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 the  Belvidere Township is appropriating approximately $3.4 million.  See the photocopy below.  This is approximately the amount which taxpayers will pay to the township on their tax bills.

Appropriation

 

The following sheets supplies the 2012 budget/2011 budget and actual/2010 budget actual:

 

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Town Fund Account 001

Townhall fund 001

Detailed Town Fund

Townhall detailed budget

General Assistance Account 003 .  Note the high CD’s/Cash Carryover from Table 1. During FY 2010 cash/CDE’s for General Assistance rose from $195k to $215.7k. The 215.7is 333.2 % of budgeted appropriation and a like number of budgeted expenditures.  Should Belvidere township be levying any tax for general assistance when it has surplus equal to more than three years of actual expenditures? 

Approximately $65k is appropriated each year of which $45k is from property tax.  Yet as shown by the detailed expenses, actual expenditures (Table 3) were only $42.3k in 2010 and $52.3k in 2009. 

Look at the detailed actual expenses (Table 3).  Administrative cost are almost all of the actual expenditures.  In FY 2011 the only actual benefits for indigent were $4,500 rent; $600 Utility assistance, $475 living expenses , $500 food and home relief, and $80 transient travel. TOTAL:  $6,165  In 201o $12,344.50 rent assistance, 925 living expense grant, $500 food/home relief, and $80 transient travel. TOTAL $13,849.20.

TABLE 2

General Assistance--revenue side

TABLE 3

Gen Assist Expenditure side

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Sales tax loophole leaves some cities, towns crying foul as firms exploit Illinois law

Some government agencies plan to pursue legal action against companies that set up satellite offices in other parts of the state to avoid higher sales-tax rates in Chicago and the surrounding area

 

These companies, ranging from catalog houses and appliance retailers to oil companies and computer purveyors, shift the official point of purchase from the Chicago area to such locations as Kankakee and Channahon in order to escape the high sales-tax rates in Cook and some collar counties. One significant advantage for the companies is that they can sell products to customers at a lower tax cost, effectively reducing the purchase price and gaining an advantage over

Click on the following for more details:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0821-rta-tax-20110821,0,5626715.story

Friday, August 19, 2011

August 23 Meeting at Community Building

The following full page ad appears in today’s  (8-19-2011) Boone County Journal. Please come and join us.

 

COM bLDG ad

 

COM bLDG ad

Index of postings on Concerned Catholics of Boone County

October (13)

September (57)

 

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